Social Security has issued updated numbers on payments of fees to attorneys and some others for representing Social Security claimants. These fees are withheld and paid by Social Security but come out of the back benefits of the claimants involved. The attorneys and others who have their fees withheld pay a substantial (in my opinion, excessive) user fee for this privilege. Since these fees are usually paid at the same time that the claimant is paid, these numbers show how quickly or slowly Social Security is able to get claimants paid after a favorable determination on their claims.
| Month/Year | Volume |
Amount
|
|---|---|---|
Jan-12
|
29,926
|
$89,749,312.99
|
Feb-12
|
43,946
|
$134,207,416.10
|
Mar-12
|
47,376
|
$139,571,577.57
|
Apr-12
|
38,239
|
$113,225,483.07
|
May-12
|
37,648
|
$112,446,283.39
|
June-12
|
43,816
|
$128,559,225.66
|
July-12
|
33,342
|
$97,458,955.82
|
Aug-12
|
41,441
|
$119,484,061.59
|
Sept-12
|
38,393
|
$115,676,630.23
|
Oct-12
|
29,646
|
$84,612,068.75
|
Nov-12
|
37,384
|
$110,226,459.65
|
Dec-12
|
34,780
|
$104,926,570.07
|
Jan-13
|
32,663
|
$96,690,734.65
|
I can't get January 2013 to line up with the 2012 numbers. They are from two different tables and Blogger has problems with that.
January is a tough month for Social Security because the SSA-1099s and the earnings estimate forms for retirees between 62 and 65 go out in January which cause more people to call Social Security and because many people retire at the end of each calendar year and because many people put off business around the holidays.
I feel that the numbers will continue on a downward spiral based soley on the fact that the Agency is working down the backlog in view of the amount of time from application date, making the amount of payments of back benefits and thereby adjoining Rep fees less. Reps always complained about the amount of time to get a hearing, but we will see what happens when it becomes so short their fees are less than the full $6,000.00 amount..
ReplyDeleteWhy can't an attorney just bill their clients and have the clients pay them directly what is owed? Why must the government be the middle man in this transaction since we are talking about money owed to the claimant by the government, not owed to the attorney by the government. This bill payment service by the government adds delays, additional work and expense, and public service issues for the client, the attorney, and SSA to resolve. These efforts and expenses should be directed to higher priority workloads and service needs. The client must directly pay for his food, clothing, shelter, and other needs. If he borrows money from others to met those expenses, those lenders must make their own arrangements to be paid. Why are attorneys so deserving of special rules? If they believe in their client and the case before them, trust the client to pay them and consider collection of payment due to be just another overhead expense that is part of doing business in the USA.
ReplyDelete"The attorneys and others who have their fees withheld pay a substantial (in my opinion, excessive) user fee for this privilege."
ReplyDeleteAnd you think the government should be their pay agent for free?